-Constitution and Bylaws

The name of this organization shall be known as the Cinnamon Rabbit Breeders Association.

Article 2 Objectives

The object of this association shall be: To promote, develop, and improve the breeding of the Cinnamon rabbit, to pro-vide a center of information and advice to all matters pertaining to the Cinnamon, to advance and protect the interest of the breeders and public, and to encourage the exhibition of the Cinnamon and the sale of it for its value for food, fur, and breeding animals.

Article 3 Membership

Section 1: All members of this association shall be active members, with voting rights attained at age 18.

Section 2: Any person who is a current member in good standing of the ARBA may become an active member in good standing. The board of directors reserves the right to accept or reject, for just cause, any application for membership or renewal. A written Cinnamon RBA Application for membership form must be sent to the secretary and must be accompanied by the membership fee (as listed in section 3).

Section 3: The membership fee and dues shall be eight ($8) dollars per year for one member; or twelve ($12) dollars per year for husband and wife plus two ($2) dollars per child at the same address. Dues for three years shall be twenty ($20) dollars for one member or thirty ($30) dollars for husband and wife plus five ($5) dollars per child at the same address. Dues for youth memberships (eighteen years or younger) shall be four ($4) per year or ten ($10) dollars for three years. Dues are payable at the time of application for membership. No person shall be enrolled as a member until this fee has been paid.

Section 4: Membership shall be acknowledged by the card issued by the association and signed by the secretary, and shall terminate at the end of the year or years from the date of issue.

Section 5: Members are to be notified by the secretary at least thirty days before the expiration date of their membership via the club newsletter, personal letter, email, and/or any reasonable means available. Members who renew within thirty days of expiration will retain their membership; all others will be considered new members upon receipt of dues.

Section 6: Complaints and also charges of misconduct of a member shall be made in writing to the secretary or president, who shall, with the board of directors, consider the complaint. This committee may, by a majority, vote to suspend or expel the member.

Section 7: A suspended or expelled member may appeal the decision from the board of directors and the matter shall be submitted to the vote of the members. A majority vote of the members either for, or against the decision of the board shall be considered final.

Section 8: Any member with twenty-five (25) continuous years of membership will automatically be given a life member-ship.

Article 4 Board of Directors

Section 1: The board of directors shall consist of a president, vice president, secretary-treasurer, five directors, and one non-voting youth representative.

Section 2: Terms of office shall be as follows:

All voting members of the board shall be elected for two years. The president and three directors shall be elected on even years. The vice-president, secretary-treasurer, and three directors shall be elected on uneven years. The youth representative shall be appointed by the president and will serve a one-year term.

Section 3: Duties:

The president shall preside at all meetings of the association, act as chairman of the board of directors, appoint all commit-tees not otherwise provided for; call special meetings of the board of directors; and perform other duties as pertains to that office.

The vice-president shall perform the duties of the president in his/her absence or in the case of inability to perform those duties as president.

The secretary-treasurer shall act as secretary, conducting the general correspondence of the association; sending out all notices of meetings of the association and of the board of directors, and keeping the minutes of all such meetings; conducting elections; maintaining the membership list; notifying members of expiring memberships; and renewing the club charter with the ARBA yearly. He/she shall act as treasurer, including the collection of all monies due, paying from the funds of the association such claims as are properly authorized and approved; sending a quarterly financial statement to the board of directors, and performing such other duties as pertains to the office

The board of directors shall carry out the instructions of the association; authorize expenditures (but no expense shall be incurred or authorized beyond the assets of the association); devise ways and means to carry out the objectives and purposes of the association; make rules as shall be deemed necessary during the year for the conduction of club business and the awarding of prizes; and perform other duties as pertains to the offices.

The youth representative shall represent the viewpoint of youth club members and impart these viewpoints to the board of directors.

Section 4: An auditing committee shall be appointed by the president as needed. They shall examine and certify the ac-counts and records of the association at the end of the year, or at any other time as may be required.

Section 5: Election of Officers/Directors

To run for an office of the Cinnamon RBA, any member in good standing over the age of 18 may submit his/her name in writing to the secretary-treasurer for inclusion on the ballot. Deadline for submitting one’s name is August 1st (postmark) of the election year. Candidates are encouraged to submit a profile for publication.

The secretary-treasurer will mail ballots to all eligible members by September 1 of the election year. Ballots shall be re-turned by October 1st to a person or persons designated by the Board of Directors as a ballot tabulator. No ballots which are postmarked after October 1 shall be counted.

The ballot tabulator shall count the ballots and shall report the results of the election to the secretary-treasurer, who will present those results to club members by means of any available club communication. The secretary-treasurer will keep the ballots on file for one year. The newly elected officers and directors shall be installed at the end of the general Cinnamon RBA business meeting at the annual ARBA convention or by December 1st if such meeting does not take place.

Section 6: Vacancies in office shall be filled by a majority vote of the remaining board of directors.

Section 7: No member of the election committee can be elected to office.

Article 5 - Amending the Constitution

Any member in good standing may propose an amendment to the constitution.

A proposed amendment must be submitted in writing to the secretary-treasurer, who will publish said amendment to the membership at least thirty (30) days in advance of the annual meeting or the deadline for mailed-in votes. An amendment may be approved by one of two methods: 1. A three-fourths (3/4) vote of approval of all members in good standing pre-sent at the annual meeting (with a minimum of twelve members in good standing present) or: 2. A two-thirds (2/3) vote of approval of the membership of the association in good standing by mail ballot.

BY-LAWS

Article 1 Annual Meeting

Section 1: If the annual meeting shall be held at a time and place other than the annual convention, notices of the time and place for holding any such meeting must be sent by the secretary to each member at least thirty (30) days prior to such meeting.

Section 2: At all meetings, seven members shall constitute a quorum. No person shall act as a proxy for another member.

Section 3: If a quorum shall not be present the presiding officer may adjourn the meeting to a day and hour fixed by him.

Section 4: Use of electronic meeting venues such as conference calls and online meeting groups is allowed and shall be governed by the same rules as those in which members are physically present.